His shaven head even drew cheers and heckles, some taunting “Kojak,” that he wouldn’t keep them all down by the time Franklin County Attorney Michael Shuler blew the whistle.

But Goodman’s constitution remained calm, and 27-dozen oysters later, his consuming style had brought him to only 72 oysters short of the record.

“The rules say you have to use a fork to get them out the cup. If he wants to swallow ‘em, he can swallow ‘em. That’s up to him,” said Shuler, who’s been volunteering for the festival for about 20 years.

Goodman, 41, said it was his first time ever in an eating contest, but that he’s no stranger to savoring oysters. “I usually get a bag like every Friday, and eat a bag,” he said.

Among females, Franklin County woman Dana Taylor pulled a stunning upset of five-time champion Angie Harnage, who downed only seven dozen and six oysters, about half of her personal best. Taylor consumed an impressive 18 dozen.

“This is it. I’m retiring. Turning 50 next year. It’s just time,” said Harnage, who started oyster eating about 10 years ago on a dare from friends. “We just made it a tradition.”

Tradition rebounded far off from just the oyster eating contest.

To kick off the event Friday night, John Solomon, president of the board of directors, presented a plaque to Billy Spikes, who directed the first festival in 1963,

Now in the real estate business in Orlando, Spikes back then was a young marketing manager for Florida Power, and worked closely with city business interests to create an attraction for visitors in the off-season. Ted Mosteller, also retired from Florida Power, is stepping down this year after more than four decades on the volunteer board.

Solomon said despite a rainstorm that shaved the last couple hours off Friday’s events, this year’s crowds have been enormous, fueled by a combination of it being the golden anniversary, the appearance of country music and “Dancing with the Stars” champion Kellie Pickler Saturday night and Saturday’s weather.

“It was a good crowd,” he said. “The lines at the arts and crafts was like food row. I’ve never seen it like that.”

By mid-afternoon, the raw oysters had sold out — they were looking to buy more for frying — scallops were about to go and there no more T-shirts to be had.

“We’re fixing to be out of mullet,” said Solomon. “There’s another 150 pound coming.”

After that it was time for another tradition, this time a win in the oyster shucking contest for Scotty O’Lear, an 11-time state champion and a five-time national champion.

The general manager of Dusty’s Oyster Bar in Panama City for the past 20 years, O’Lear was pleased to have once again taken the state title, this time by edging co-worker and returning champion Rick McCurley.

“It feels good to win,” he said. “I haven’t won here in four years. It’s been awhile.”

O’Lear finished with a time of 2:31, helped out by getting a deduction for “the perfect tray,” a symmetrical presentation of six rows of four. Only nine of his 24 oysters were not fully cut from the shell, so he had 27 seconds added for that.

Still, it was good enough to edge McCurley, and third place Robert Daffin, also a former state champion.

“I had a good run on oysters,” said O’Lear. “Pop, cut, place. Pop, cut, place. Every oyster seems to rock for you. When you got one oyster that hangs you up, the competition is really tough.”